Trace-holder.



No. 838,869. PATENTED DEG. 18, 1906. G. LAUBB.`

TRACE HLDE'R.

APPLICATION FILED APB. 4. 190.

Wifi/@716% UNITE@ STATES PATENT OFFTCE.

GODFRIED IJAUBE, OF SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TO ALBERT VANDENBURG, OF HURON, SOUTH DAKOTA.

TRACE-HOLDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dee. 18, 1906.

Application filed April 4, 1906. Serial N0. 309,844.

T0 a/ZZ whom, t may concern/.-

Be it linown that I, GODFRIED LAUBE, a citizen of the United States of America, residino' at Santa Monica, in the county of Los AngeIes and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trace-Holders, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in trace-holders, and the invention has for its primary object the provision of novel means for easily, quickly, and securely holding the end of a trace or tug in engagement with whiffletrees of various forms and sizes.

My invention aims to provide a simple and effective trace-holder which can be easily and quickly manipulated to lock the end of a trace or tug upon the end of a swingletree, whereby the same cannot become accidentally displaced. In this connection the invention is an improvement upon my im-` proved trace-holder patented July 31, 1900, No. 654,653, wherein a trace-holder somewhat similar to that of the present invention is illustrated and described, and after actual use of the above trace-holder I have observed a few defects which this invention aims to eliminate.

/Vith the above and other objects in view, which will more readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and, referring to the drawings accompanying this application, like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective4 view of a portion of a whiffletree or swingletree equipped with my improved trace-holder, illustrating a trace thereon. Fig. 2 is a similar view illustrating my improved trace-holder as used upon another type of swingle or whiffle tree. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of my improved trace-holder, partly in elevation.

To put my invention into practice, I construct my improved trace-holder of a tapering channel-shaped casing 1, the depending sides 2 of which are provided intermediate their ends with depending lugs 3 3, said lugs being adapted to engage in the swingle or whiffle tree 4 and prevent the casing 1 from becoming laterally displaced thereon, especially when screws 5 5 are employed for securing the rear ends of the casing 1 upon the whifl'letree. The outer or large end of the casing 1 is cut away, as at 6, and in said cutaway portion is pivotally mounted, by a pin 7, a hookshaped member 8, having a pierced gripping-lug 9, by which the same is moved. A flat spring 10 is arranged within the casing 1, said flat spring having its one end secured in a suitable manner at the smaller end of the casing 1, while its opposite end-bears against the base 11 of the hookshaped member 8, thus firmly holding the hook-shaped member in engagement with the whifl'letree 4.

The end of the whi'H'letree upon which the casing 1 is mounted is provided with a vertically-disposed opening 12 directly beneath the pierced lug 9, the object of which will be presently described.

To illustrate the manner in which a trace or tug is held by my improved holder, I have shown the slotted end of a trace or tug 14 as mounted upon the end of the whiffletree 4. A hook-shaped member 8 spans the upper edge of the trace or tug and prevents the trace or tug from slipping or becoming displaced relative to the whifietree 4. The pierced lug 9 serves two functions-namely, a grip for the thumb or iinger in manipulating the hook-shaped member S and as a locking member should the spring 10 within the casing become broken or damaged, in which instance a piece of wire, cord, or cable can be passed through the pierced lug 9 and opening 12 of the hook-shaped member 8 Aand the whiffletree 4 to lock the hook-shaped member in a lowered position upon the whifiietree 4.

In Fig. 2 of the drawings I have illustrated the depending lugs 3 3 as being carried by the enlarged end of the casing 1, also showing my improved trace-holder used upon a whiflietree 4, equipped with a T-shaped hook 15.

In the present trace-holder I make the pierced lug 9 as short as possible, whereby a horses tail will not become entangled in the same and open the hook-shaped member, thereby overcoming one of the defects of the patented trace-holder heretofore mentioned.

It is thought from the foregoing that the construction and manipulation of my improved trace-holder will be apparent to those IOO skilled in the art, and such changes in the construction and minor details of the invention as are permissible by the appended claims may be resorted to Without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a trace-holder, the combination with a Whiiiletree having a pierced end, of a tapering channel shaped easing secured to said Whiliietree, depending lugs carried by the sides of said easing,y and engaging in said whifletree, a springeheld hook-shaped member pivotally mounted in the large end of said easing, a pierced lugk Carried by said member and adapted vto overliethe opening formed in the end of the Whiffletree, substantially as and for the'purpose described.

2. In a trace-holder, the combination With a Whiiiletree having an opening formed in its zo end, of a spring-pressed hook-shaped member mounted upon the end of said Whiilietree, a pierced lug carried by said member and adapted to overlie the opening of said whif- 'lietree, substantially as and for the purpose 25 described.

In testimony whereof I afIiX my signature in the presence of tWo Witnesses.

GODFRIED LAUBE. Vitnesses:

I-IATTIE R. LAUBE, GROVER C. G. LAUBE. 

